If you haven’t read Kent M. Keith’s The Paradoxical Commandments, it’s worth a few minutes of your time. If you were looking for the origin of these commandments and the connection to Mother Theresa, look here: The Mother Theresa Connection.
In my reflection of events in 2015, I do find the commandments paradoxical. Let’s take a few highlights for a spin.
KMK:
People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
DK: You are on a JetBlue flight. The woman sitting next to you in Coach removes her shoes, her stockings and then places her feet up on the seat in front of you. She wiggles her chubby toes to air out her dogs. (In case you were dying to know, she had a nice pedicure. The toenail polish was a pretty baby blue matching her fingernails. And there was no visible toe jam.)
KMK:
Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.
KMK: Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
DK:
You come home from work, its late, it’s been a long (very) day. You are eating dinner, alone. Your head is down. (Important to note: Head Down.) Your spouse of 30+ years looks over from the couch, sees Gaps, and asks if you’ve considered Rogaine. You lift your head, your mouth is full – you try to validate if you just heard what you think you heard. You chew. You swallow, and then ask: “Excuse me. I didn’t hear what you said.” She repeats it crossing the “Red-Line” of no communication during the first 10 minutes of the King’s decompression zone. You reel from two scuds to the chest, elect to drop your head down with no response and finish your dinner. For the next 123 days, you start your day each morning staring at the mirror assessing the speed of the backward march of your hair line.
KMK: Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
KMK: The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
DK:
“The damn dog is hungry. A few table scraps won’t kill him!
“Isn’t one pierced ear enough?”
“Are you trying to dress like Snooki?”
“Is wearing your underwear out in public the new style for millennials?
“I hope I’m not paying for that?”
“I don’t care if it was on Sale!”
“Do you think that is appropriate on Facebook?”
“When I was your age, I had chores to do every single day. And what say you?”
“Do you honestly believe that this is any good?”
KMK: What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
KMK: People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
DK:
“Dad, you are really clueless.”
“Dad, it was easier back then.”
“Dad, do you think this parenting approach is effective?”
“Dad, do you think that you are bi-polar? These violent mood swings are problematic.”
“Dad, this is starting to feel like a gulag.”
So, what have we learned?
What’s the plan for change?
What are the New Year’s Resolutions?
Zero Change.
BE MORE ME.
We are approaching a tipping point (to something).
Goal? Double Down.
Live & Learn 
Picture perfect imagery, David. Made me laugh so hard. The human struggle to just be. May your next year be full of laughter and happiness in being more you.
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Smiling. Thanks Helen. Happy New Year.
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You are a true original, pal, no ifs, ands or buts about it. Embrace your uniqueness. I would encourage you to make one resolution heading into the new year: go a little easier on yourself–in the end, you’re all you’ve got. Happy New Year!!
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Smiling. Thank you Lori. Happy New Year!
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Same to you, pal!
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Sometimes I wonder if it’s “just me”. You know? Am I the only one who does, doesn’t, is, are, should, would, don’t, can’t…? Then I look in the mirror. Yep…it’s me. All of me. All. Of. Me. Thank goodness for that. There could never be two of me. Thank you. Again. More of me.
You listening, Friend? More. Of. Me. Amazing. Damn amazing. Just going to carry on but with a difference.
This year? Yes, this new year I’m going to be better about being…me.
More, please.
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Smiling. Yes. All of that and MORE. Please.
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Yep. No resolutions for me. I’ve worked hard on self acceptance. I’m okay with all of it.
Happy New Year, DK. ☺ Looking forward to bits of brilliance from you in 2016.
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Smiling. You are way enough Van. Thank you. Happy New Year!
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This is hilarious David! ((LOVE))
Still smelling feet …
Still smiling …
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Especially the feet. Laughing. Thank you Val.
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see – be more we. gee…
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Wow. That’s Big Rhythm. Big.
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Delightful! Have a Happy New Year.
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Thank you! Happy New Year!
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Best advice I seen all day, go for it!!
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Laughing. Excellent! Happy New Year Mimi!
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But then again, that’s why everybody ( or may be almost everybody) loves you. Happy New Year, good health, and beaucoup happiness
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Awwwww, thank you Michael. The ultimate compliment. Thank you. Happy New Year to you and your loved ones. DK
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My horoscope for New Years Day 2000 said that things will go better for me if I just be my usual unabashed and unapologetic self. Its true, but a nice apology every now and then goes a long ways.
I had the pleasure of learning to mold some clay on a potters wheel last summer. Someone took a picture of me, my hands cupping the clay. I was hunkered over the wheel in total concentration, my face inches from the pot I was forming. All you could see was my purple shirt, hands, clay and the top of my head.
if it hadnt been for the purple shirt I would have wondered who the bald guy was.
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LAUGHING! So, quick clarification, you horoscope is from 2000, and you are still rolling with it? 🙂
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Hey, so I’m Taurus, what do you expect?
Besides, it was from “Free Will Astrology”, always a good read no matter what your sign, though I havent visited there in years.
Happy New Year David.
http://www.freewillastrology.com/horoscopes/aries.html
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Still smiling. I didn’t know of this site. So of course I had to check out Scorpio. So Nile it is. 🙂 Happy New Year.
“I propose that we make the Nile your official metaphor in 2016, Scorpio. You need versatile resources that enable you to come and go as you please — that are flexible in supporting your efforts to go where you want and when you want.
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Change is a comin’….and we think you’re terrific..Happy New Year…bi-polar, strange parenting, weird plane trips, balding head included.
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Laughing. Thanks Mimi. Appreciate you and our friendship. Happy New Year to you and the family.
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LOL…. “These violent mood swings are problematic”
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I’ve heard THAT far too many times. 🙂
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and as we know, WE would not have dared even whisper that to our parents! Think it, yes. 🙂
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Now, THAT, is the truth… 🙂
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I flow with the status flow… learn from my errors & keep being grateful for life…
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Sounds like the “right” plan…the high road.
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Ha, a mistake meant status quo….
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Lots of laughing in this post and I think everyone can relate to these experiences. I’m with the others, I think you are far too hard on yourself, and your family too ha! You have a lot more going for you than you think! Thanks for all your wonderful writing that keeps us entertained all year. You are very talented.
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Smiling. Thank you for the encouragement Karen. Happy New Year.
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love the picture. happy new year.
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Thank you Cyndi. Happy New Year!
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Dave, thank you for being honest, humorous, interesting and vulnerable…You are such a great writer…Onward to Greet the Dawn of the New Year..
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Thank you for the kind words Christie. I appreciate your followership and friendship. Happy New Year.
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Hilarious. Double Down. Rock that up-do.
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Smiling. Thanks Catherine.
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Gawds, I love all your sides (your kids got it wrong–you’ve got more of a multiple personality thing going than bipolar mood swings).
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Laughing. I think you have it right but PLEASE don’t feed the fire… 🙂
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‘You reel from two scuds to the chest, elect to drop your head down with no response and finish your dinner.’ This stands out to me as a sure sign of your Zen transformation. Happy New Year, David! Don’t go changin’ to try to please me…..
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Laughing. Actually I should have stated that. I was so proud not to have responded. Yet the lingering effects… 🙂 Thanks Carolann.
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Lol…Happy New Year, David.
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🙂 Thanks Carol. Happy New Year to you too!
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The best way to live life is found in the phrase that points toward what is right and good; “Do it anyway.” That is the mantra of Saints. That is the reason why Mother Teresa will be canonized to Sainthood this year in Rome by Pope Francis.
-Alan
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Yes. Full stop. Move towards truth even if it hurts.
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Amen
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And for some reasons reminds me of:
Delusion is always floating; for that reason it sometimes appears quite light and spiritual, because it is so airy. Truth takes a first step, and for that reason sometimes a difficult one, too.”
Søren Kierkegaard, Works of Love
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I like the quote.
The greatest truth and love known to mankind hung from a cross. There was nothing light and airy about it. For the crushing weight of men’s and women’s ills, pain, suffering, fears and sins rested on the shoulders of He who was pinioned there.
He said: “If you love me, you will do what I say.” What He said was absolute truth, for He was incapable of lying. Therefore, divine truth is love and those who do it truly know love.
-Alan
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Thank you Alan.
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